As Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) continues to evolve to meet the needs of the NICU, the smallest patients stand to see the biggest benefit.
This advancement had previously been limited to improving outcomes within adult medicine. Today, neonatologists have new options for tackling the training and application hurdles that pediatric ultrasound has traditionally contended with.
Neonatologists can see benefits from exploring POCUS's role in pediatric ultrasound, including its potential pulmonary, cardiac, abdominal, and cranial/spinal applications. In the NICU, POCUS helps to:
Speed diagnosis of respiratory failure.1
Assess hemodynamic status during the acute decompensation phase.2
Identify signs of necrotizing enterocolitis that may not be detectable on X-ray.3
Evaluate for hydrocephalus and intraventricular hemorrhage, even in an emergency setting.2,4
By implementing the use of POCUS and pediatric ultrasound, NICUs can reduce practice variability between clinicians, expand access to real-time data and insights, and improve outcomes for patients while adding to the experience of concerned families.
This can only happen when POCUS technology is designed for the specialized needs of the NICU. The GE Venue Family of systems addresses learning curves through intuitive interfaces and user-friendly touch screens that neonatologists can bring directly to critically ill preterm and term babies.
Mapping key areas of the infant body happens according to POCUS protocol. Dedicated neonatal probes are designed specifically for NICU diagnosis, follow-up evaluation, and procedural assistance.
Through high-quality images and real-time documentation that supports standardized scanning protocols, POCUS machines provide quality assurance for delicate patients.
Download the whitepaper here.
References
- Janssen LM, Miyake H, Hock A, et al. Value of abdominal ultrasound in management of necrotizing enterocolitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pediatr Surg Int. 2018;34(6):589-612.
- Singh Y, Tissot C, Fraga MV, et al. International evidence-based guidelines on Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) for critically ill neonates and children issued by the POCUS Working Group of the European Society of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care (ESPNIC). Crit Care. 2020;24(1):65.
- Conlon TW, Kantor DB, Su ER, et al. Diagnostic Bedside Ultrasound Program Development in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine: Results of a National Survey. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2018;19(11):e561-e568.
- Miller LE, Stoller, JZ, Fraga, MV. Point-of-care ultrasound in the neonatal ICU, Current Opinion in Pediatrics: 2020; 32(2)216-227.
